A new COAG report shows that Australians are living longer than ever but diseases such as type 2 diabetes means that Australians are also sicker than ever.
Here are some interesting statistics that have come out of this study.
Since the last study in 1996:
- The life expectancy of Australian men had improved by about six years to 79.2.
- Heart attacks and lung cancer were the biggest disease burdens in Australia.
- Disease burden from tobacco products in Australia has decreased.
- There had been a dramatic rise in diabetes and related deaths.
- Diabetes is now the 10th largest burden of disease, measured by years of life lost, in Australia and New Zealand, compared to 19th globally.
- Almost 63 per cent of Australian adults are overweight or obese.
- one in 25 Australians are suffering from type 2 diabetes.
Although a longer life expectancy is always welcome at the same time the question of life quality should be asked. Often longer life with a poor quality of life is not beneficial. We need more studies to show how while living longer we can improve quality of life.
Follow this link to see how the Australian ABC reported the story.
